What Are SIC and NAICS Codes? A Beginner’s Guide for B2B Marketers
For B2B marketers, reaching the right audience is everything. Whether you’re building account lists, launching targeted campaigns, or qualifying leads, understanding how businesses are categorized can significantly improve marketing precision. Two of the most widely used classification systems are SIC and NAICS codes. While they may seem technical at first, these codes are powerful tools for segmentation, targeting, and analysis.
What Are SIC Codes?
SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) codes were developed by the U.S. government in the 1930s to classify businesses based on their primary industry. SIC codes use a four-digit numbering system, where each digit represents a broader to more specific industry category.
For example:
73 – Business Services
737 – Computer Programming and Data Processing
7372 – Prepackaged Software
Although SIC codes are considered outdated by government agencies, they are still widely used in marketing databases, legacy systems, and third-party data providers.
What Are NAICS Codes?
NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) codes were introduced in 1997 as a replacement for SIC codes. NAICS uses a six-digit structure and provides a more detailed and modern view of business activities. It is maintained by statistical agencies in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
For example:
51 – Information
511 – Publishing Industries
511210 – Software Publishers
NAICS codes better reflect today’s economy, especially in areas like technology, healthcare, and professional services.
Key Differences Between SIC and NAICS
While both systems classify industries, there are important differences marketers should understand.
SIC codes are shorter and less detailed, making them easier to use but less precise. NAICS codes offer greater granularity, allowing marketers to segment audiences more accurately.
NAICS also focuses on how businesses operate rather than just what they produce, which makes it more relevant for modern B2B marketing strategies. As a result, NAICS is now the preferred standard for government reporting and most new data initiatives.
Why SIC and NAICS Codes Matter for B2B Marketing
For B2B marketers, SIC and NAICS codes are essential for audience targeting and segmentation. They help identify companies that fit your ideal customer profile (ICP) and exclude industries that are unlikely to convert.
Key use cases include:
Building targeted account lists
Refining paid media and ABM campaigns
Enhancing lead scoring and qualification
Improving personalization and messaging
Analyzing market size and opportunity
Using industry codes ensures campaigns reach relevant prospects, improving engagement and ROI.
How Marketers Use SIC and NAICS Codes Together
Despite NAICS being more modern, many marketers still use SIC codes alongside NAICS. This is because some databases, CRM systems, and media platforms rely on SIC, while others use NAICS.
By mapping SIC to NAICS codes, marketers can expand reach while maintaining accuracy. This dual approach is especially useful for account-based marketing and large-scale B2B data initiatives.
Best Practices for B2B Marketers
To get the most value from SIC and NAICS codes:
Combine industry codes with firmographic and intent data
Avoid relying on codes alone—validate with real-world insights
Regularly update and refine target industry segments
Use more specific codes whenever possible
Test performance across different industry segments
This ensures better targeting without limiting opportunities unnecessarily.
Final Thoughts
SIC and NAICS codes may not be glamorous, but they are foundational tools for effective B2B marketing. When used correctly, they enable smarter segmentation, sharper targeting, and more relevant messaging.
For beginner B2B marketers, mastering SIC and NAICS codes is a critical step toward building scalable, data-driven campaigns that reach the right businesses at the right time.
Read More: https://intentamplify.com/blog/sic-vs-naics-codes/
